Get Dressed

Colossians 3:12  As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13  Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 The governing verb in this passage is Ἐνδύσασθε – “put on” as in “get dressed”. This is an invitation to be clothed in the qualities of God’s chosen people. The instruction is to wear the garments of “compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience... forgiveness... love ... peace”.

Today is being celebrated as “Mandela day”. It is the birthday of Nelson Mandela , a great South African leader who “clothed” himself with the personal moral qualities of Grace necessary to lead our nation. Today we are challenged to do the same. May God grant us all the grace to be clothed with the qualities that enrich our life together.

Ordinary 16 / Pentecost +9

38 Patience
The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 237.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.